A morning fire levelled a house on County Road 40 north of Norwood, Ont. on Saturday May 27, 2017 in Douro Dummer Township, Ont. No one was hurt and everyone in the house was accounted for, Const. Jason Folz stated. CLIFFORD SKARSTEDT/PETERBOROUGH EXAMINER/POSTMEDIA NETWORK

Saturday morning's fire that levelled a house north of Norwood caused a half a million dollars in damage but an exact cause has not been determined.

Douro-Dummer Township fire department Chief Chuck Pedersen said Monday that damage is estimated at $499,999 in the blaze at 817 County Rd. 40 in Douro-Dummer.

"The exact cause of ignition could not be identified, but we believe the area of origin is the area around the living room wood stove," Pedersen stated.

A wood stove was used Friday afternoon, the investigation determined.

One person was home at the time of the fire, but due to working smoke alarms was able to escape safely, Pedersen stated.

The house was built in 1974, Pedersen stated.

Battling the fire required all of the township fire department's resources as well as help from the Asphodel-Norwood fire department's Norwood Fire Station. Firefighters from Otonabee-South Monaghan and Selwyn townships also helped the cause by standing by in case of other calls at the time, Pedersen stated.

The blaze is a reminder of the value of working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in saving lives, Pedersen added.